The Florida Supreme Court suspended former Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox from the Florida Bar, a step toward his likely disbarment.

The Supreme Court issued the suspension order Thursday, though it won’t go into effect for another 30 days so Maddox can close out his law practice. The suspension came after the Florida Bar filed notice that Maddox pleaded guilty to federal charges involving a public corruption investigation.

The matter has been referred to the chief judge of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Because of his felony conviction, there will be no Bar proceeding on the underlying facts; instead, his case will proceed directly to the recommended penalty phase.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Lawrence Keefe speaks at the Federal Courthouse after suspended commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith plead guilty to three charges of public corruption Tuesday, Aug. 6. 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Lawrence Keefe speaks at the Federal Courthouse after suspended commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith plead guilty to three charges of public corruption Tuesday, Aug. 6. 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the FBI Jacksonville Field Office Sean Ryan speaks to the media at the Federal Courthouse after suspended commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith plead guilty to three charges of public corruption Tuesday, Aug. 6. 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Lawrence Keefe speaks at the Federal Courthouse after suspended commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith plead guilty to three charges of public corruption Tuesday, Aug. 6. 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Lawrence Keefe speaks at the Federal Courthouse after suspended commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith plead guilty to three charges of public corruption Tuesday, Aug. 6. 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

“In cases of felony convictions, there is a presumption of disbarment,” a Florida Bar spokeswoman told the Tallahassee Democrat last week.

Maddox graduated from Florida State University’s College of Law in 1995. He was law partners with the late Mallory Horne, former Florida House speaker and Senate president, and practiced law through the Maddox Horne law firm.

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Suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox enters the U.S. District Courthouse with his lawyer Stephen Dobson III before a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox enters the U.S. District Courthouse with his lawyer Stephen Dobson III before a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith and her attorney Stephen Webster leave the U.S. District Courthouse after a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Carter-Smith and suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox leaves the U.S. District Courthouse with his lawyer Stephen Dobson III before a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox leaves the U.S. District Courthouse with his lawyer Stephen Dobson III before a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith and her attorneys enter the U.S. District Courthouse after a hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. An original trial date of Feb. 11 was pushed back to a date uncertain. Carter-Smith and suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox were indicted in December on numerous public corruption charges. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

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He and Paige Carter-Smith, former head of the Downtown Improvement Authority, pleaded guilty earlier this month to honest services mail fraud, honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the government through tax returns. They admitted they accepted money from city vendors in exchange for official action. Sentencing is set for November.

Maddox was suspended from office after his indictment last year and removed from office last week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.